PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) Ulubelu Area in Tanggamus Regency, Lampung Province, continues to participate in running the business by prioritizing social and environmental aspects in addition to geothermal power plant operations. One of them is by providing data on community empowerment by optimizing the potential of coffee plants to improve the economy of the community around the area of operation through the Coffee Learning House and Coffee-Geotourism programs. General Manager of PGE Ulubelu Area, Andi Joko Nugroho, stated that PGE is not only focused on improving the economy of coffee farmers in Ulubelu, but also educating coffee farmers to care about the environment. Farmers must also be aware and care about the environment so that their agricultural activities can continue well. "In collaboration with the Association of Farmers Groups (Gapoktan), we created a Coffee Learning House program in Sukamaju Village, Ulubelu. The aim is to increase the capacity of coffee farmers so that quality coffee is produced and the selling price will increase,” said Andi, last weekend. According to Andi, coffee farmers must focus on quality, not just quantity. In this way, the volume of coffee cultivation in protected forests can be reduced. "Protected forests are returning to their original function," he said. He admitted that environmental issues were a challenge in coffee cultivation in Ulubelu. Gapoktan and PGE of the Ulubelu Area conducted shade plant nurseries independently of 5,000 trees. Indigofera which will be planted in the plantation area of coffee farmers functions as a shelter plant. "Through this shade tree, it is hoped that it can increase crop productivity, maintain soil fertility, and preserve forests," he explained.
Based on the 2019 Social Mapping data by Gadjah Mada University, as many as 83.33% of the Ulubelu people work as coffee farmers. From these data, it is known that not a few coffee farmers plant coffee in protected forests. Even though it has been equipped with a Community Forest Management Business License (SIUPHKm), planting coffee in a protected forest will reduce the main function of a protected forest, namely as a life support such as regulating water management, preventing floods, controlling erosion, and maintaining soil fertility. PGE Ulubelu Area does not remain silent on this condition. Together with the Kopi Beloe partner group and the North Kota Agung KPHL and two Ulubelu Gapoktan, it was agreed to carry out environmental and sustainable coffee farming by planting shade plants for coffee farmers. Not only that, PGE Ulubelu Area also cooperates with Bakrie University (Ubakrie), Jakarta in the Kedaireka Kemendikbudristek Matching Fund program in developing geothermal-based tourism potential and coffee plantations through the Geotourism-Coffee program, at the Head Office in Ulu Belu District, Tanggamus. Andi explained the program Geotourism-Coffe consists of training to increase the capacity of tourism village organizations through various training and mentoring, pioneering the establishment of the Coffee Geotourism Lab as an information and education center on geothermal energy. "In addition, Lampung robusta coffee, as well as Bimtek and Geotourism Guide certification," said Andi.
Eli Jamilah, Chief Executive of the Kedaireka 2022 Matching Fund, said that this year UBakrie and PGE will develop a branding strategy for the Ulubelu destination with the main commodities of coffee and geothermal tourism. "We hope that the Geotourism-Coffee activity can produce results, namely mapping the potential of tourism programs and products, optimizing the capabilities of tourism village groups and coffee farmers," said Eli. In carrying out its business, PGE continues to be committed to geothermal development and ensures that the implementation of Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) becomes an integrated part of PGE's geothermal business. The application of these ESG aspects is an effort to provide added value as well as PGE support for government programs related to the use of environmentally friendly renewable energy, especially geothermal. PGE's commitment to the development of geothermal energy can contribute to achieving the sustainable development targets of goals 7 (clean and affordable energy), goals 12 (responsible construction and production), goals 13 (handling climate change), and goals 15 (terrestrial ecosystems) in SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). PGE currently manages 13 Geothermal Working Areas (WKP) with an installed capacity of +1.8GW. A total of 672 MW is operated and managed directly by PGE, including Ulubelu - Lampung with an installed capacity of 220 MW, and 1,205 MW is managed under the Joint Operation Contract scenario. Geothermal installed capacity in the PGE working area contributes to 82% of the total installed geothermal capacity in Indonesia, with a potential reduction of CO2 emissions of around 9.7 million tonnes of CO2 per year.
